Prestigious guests at Harrogate school’s conference

Guest speakers, including a former Scotland Rugby Coach and British Lions Head Coach, and a BP executive, attended a conference hosted by Ashville College.

Delegates to the Methodist Independent Schools Trust (MIST) Conference – the theme of which was ‘better versions of ourselves’ – were representing a host of Methodist schools and spent the three days discussing and planning for the educational challenges ahead, not least the aftermath of the general election.

Ashville headteacher Mark Lauder said: “We are acutely aware that the new government will make changes to the education system, and part of the conference was spent discussing how best to prepare for the challenges ahead.

“We had a superb line-up of speakers, each of whom brought a different message to the Conference. This, together with workshops and discussion groups, helped ensure the Conference was stimulating and thought provoking.”

Those on the speaker’s platform included Sir Ian McGeechan, former Scotland Rugby Coach and the current Executive President of Leeds Carnegie RUFC and Kirsty Bashforth, group head of organisational effectiveness at BP. The Revd. Professor David Wilkinson, Principal of St John’s College, Durham University, also attended.

Away from the discussions, the 90 delegates played a round of golf at Rudding Park, sat for afternoon tea at Bettys, and visited Fountains Abbey and Harlow Carr.

MIST Chairman David Deeks said: “I’d like to thank Mr Lauder and Ashville College for looking after us so well. The conference was stimulating in its content, hospitable and an ideal occasion for networking, sharing perspectives, learning and praying together.”